Why should I continue to pray when this happens

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My God if that’s true I could die of joy. To thinkJesus sees me and loves me at every moment of the day? Is that what you’re saying?
 
Theresa1 said:
My God if that’s true I could die of joy. To thinkJesus sees me and loves me at every moment of the day? Is that what you’re saying?
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That is definitely true.

Jesus does love you every single moment of every single day.
 
Theresa1 said:
I start thinking about the homeless families and I say to myself

“Why would God help me out of this situation when it’s not as bad as a mom sleeping on the streets with her little kids freezing outside like I read in the news”

For some reason these thoughts prevent me from trusting God and my prayers for myself end in “don’t pray for xyz, just be grateful you are not homeless,
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I think you’ve asked good questions. & you’ve received good responses. To add to what you’ve been told, maybe God isn’t saying, “be grateful you’re not homeless.”

Maybe He’s saying, “You’re not homeless, that was me. Know that I am with you & we will get through this as well.”

Reading some of your other posts I’d also like to to suggest to slow down. Wether it’s early in the morning, late at night, or in the middle of the day when the kids take their nap, grab your crucifix and pray. Know that God is there. Know that He is aware of everything that’s weighing heavy on you. Know He is on your side. Regardless what it “looks” like. He is on your side. Always.
 
The God who numbers our hairs and sees the fall of a sparrow absolutely can care about “trivial” problems. Trust in the Lord’s love and might.
 
Theresa1 said:
i don’t know what fake humility is, it sounds like someone who is pretending to be humble but I am being very sincere.
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Inbonum said:
it can sometimes be the case and we can be fooled by it.
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Maybe another way of trying to word what @Inbonum means (if I got it right) would be this:

One of the effects praying for ourselves has is to teach us a very important thing: that we’re not going to manage alone. That we all are in need of God’s grace, mercy and help; that everything that’s good comes from His hand.

Sometimes (and I don’t think that’s your case) saying “I don’t need to pray for myself, I’ll rather pray for others” can hide a refusal of seeing oneself as someone entirely dependent on God, but rather as someone who can manage quite well on their own, thank you very much – which, of course, is a delusion, and would not be very humble.

Don’t hesitate to ask God for what you need in prayer, because that’s a very good way of entering the Christian relationship between a loving Father and His trusting child. God’s grace and love, which are boundless, are not going to be extinguished by all of us. In a way, that’s exactly like when Jesus fed thousands of people with five loaves and two fishes – “they all ate as much as they wanted, and they collected the scraps left over, twelve baskets full” (Mt 14:20). However great the need, God’s love is infinitely greater, and will provide – although sometimes the way He provides is not the way we had imagined.
 
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One view of prayer is that of cause and effect. We pray, and that prayer effects an action on God’s part. We participate in an economy of sorts. Nothing wrong with that per se.

Another complementary view of prayer is focused more around being. We express that type of thing when we ask someone to come and visit us. “Come and see me and talk to me”. And that type of prayer might not have discernible active response on the part of God, but his presence is itself the greatest gift we can ask for.
 
OddBird said:
Maybe another way of trying to word what @Inbonum means (if I got it right) would be this:

One of the effects praying for ourselves has is to teach us a very important thing: that we’re not going to manage alone. That we all are in need of God’s grace, mercy and help; that everything that’s good comes from His hand.

Sometimes (and I don’t think that’s your case) saying “I don’t need to pray for myself, I’ll rather pray for others” can hide a refusal of seeing oneself as someone entirely dependent on God, but rather as someone who can manage quite well on their own, thank you very much – which, of course, is a delusion, and would not be very humble.
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I agree.
I would also add (🙂) , when we put ourselves in position “unworthy of prayer” because it seems like others need prayer or other help more than us (and we give up prayer) or when we think poorer about ourselves than what is in reality - that’s Devil’s trap.Thinking worse about ourselves than we really are is just as bad as thinking better than what we are.
But yeah, it doesn’t have to be thing in OP’s case.
It is more like not knowing that God loves and cares about every human personally, God who is omnipresent and omnipotent. God who gives and wants to give graces. He is our Father and wants us to ask Him for graces.

It reminded me of me, when I didn’t want accept necessary medical help because I knew there are people who also need it but cannot get it. I thought that I am fair and empathetic with my action but I was fooled. God offers me help and I have to accept it. God knows that there are people in same need as me but he wanted to give that help to me in that time and way. God knows why.
 
Yes

Jesus is not an overworked social worker who has to pay attention and give help only to those in more dire circumstances before he helps you.

He is omniscient and all powerful. Do not hesitate to approach him in prayer and with trust.

He himself asks this of all of us.
 
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I feel very unworthy very often. I don’t like that feeling but I pray anyway. I say to God that the only goodness in me is wanting to please Him and my feeble prayers. I wish with all my heart I could rest confidently in His love, I don’t know why that’s so difficult.
Thank you
 
I got upset with my children when they were babies, and even now as toddlers, more than I would ever like to think possible. It’s called human nature. We all have limitations to our own personal strengths. Some of us are stronger than others but we all have breaking points. We MUST rely on God during these times. Don’t put God into a box. He is everywhere present and filling all things. God is fully capable of hearing your prayers and prayers offered for those in more dire conditions. Just because there are others worse off than you, does not mean your problems don’t matter and aren’t worth praying over!!! It should, and sounds like it does, grant you a healthy dose of humility. In some respects, some of our problems are so minor compared to others that it ought to make us more appreciative for the many blessings God “does” give us. But please never feel like your prayer is wasted or unworthy of God’s time and attention. God exists outside of time. He is present for you, individually, every moment of your life.
 
Thank you. So now my mind (the enemy?) is saying (because I was so happy to read this) that I shouldn’t be so happy about this because Jesus also loves a rapist or someone who hurts or sells kids the same way. So my mind now is gearing my emotions not to feel joyous over this comment because even if I didn’t strive as much as I do to please Jesus and even forget Him to the point where I am a hardened criminal, Jesus loves me exactly the same as that guy?

I admit my thoughts get on my nerves sometimes I just want to accept Jesus loves me which I did and then, just like that, this thought pops in!

I know it sounds terrible but I do wish Jesus would be a bit more warm in His heart for those who strive to please Him versus reject Him outright to the point of harming others.

I feel I’m lacking understanding.
 
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God Bless you and grant you many years! You are very welcome.
 
Maybe you can try to pray everyday, and wear a clergy robe in the church. if you think that still cannot help you, just pray for yourself. the most important thing is trying to love yourself.
 
Theresa1 said:
I feel very unworthy very often. I don’t like that feeling but I pray anyway. I say to God that the only goodness in me is wanting to please Him and my feeble prayers. I wish with all my heart I could rest confidently in His love, I don’t know why that’s so difficult.
Thank you
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I remind you that a person’s value lies in what she is, not in what she does or possesses. - St. John Paul II.

You are worthy because you are God’s daughter, because you are created in image of God. Your value cannot be changed.
Your worthiness don’t increase by number of things you do or decrease when you don’t do something. That is wrong thinking. I am sorry you feel this way but those thoughts and feelings can be changed.

Do you have spiritual director or confessor? Have you ever talked with someone about your feelings and thoughts?

It is possible to accept God’s love and don’t feel uworthy or worthless in this wrong way.
 
I was just wondering if there were any thoughts on this please, to help me get rid of this way of thinking.
Thank you. So now my mind (the enemy?) is saying (because I was so happy to read Jesus loves me at every moment) that I shouldn’t be so happy about this because Jesus also loves a rapist or someone who hurts or sells kids the same way. So my mind now is gearing my emotions not to feel joyous over this comment because even if I didn’t strive as much as I do to please Jesus and even forget Him to the point where I am a hardened criminal, Jesus loves me exactly the same as that guy?

I admit my thoughts get on my nerves sometimes I just want to accept Jesus loves me which I did and then, just like that, this thought pops in!

I know it sounds terrible but I do wish Jesus would be a bit more warm in His heart for those who strive to please Him versus reject Him outright to the point of harming others.

I feel I’m lacking understanding.
 
Theresa1 said:
even if I didn’t strive as much as I do to please Jesus and even forget Him to the point where I am a hardened criminal, Jesus loves me exactly the same as that guy?
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Yes because person’s value lies IN WHAT SHE IS, not in what she does or possesses.
Theresa1 said:
now my mind (the enemy?) is saying (because I was so happy to read Jesus loves me at every moment) that I shouldn’t be so happy about this because
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No, it is Devil’s trap because he uses our emotional wounds against us, to turn us away from God and destroy us, inspiring thoughts which aren’t true but are logical in human’s mind.
Theresa1 said:
that I shouldn’t be so happy about this because Jesus also loves a rapist or someone who hurts or sells kids the same way.
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Theresa1 said:
I know it sounds terrible but I do wish Jesus would be a bit more warm in His heart for those who strive to please Him versus reject Him outright to the point of harming others.
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Jesus’s love isn’t same as our love.
You want to be loved because of your actions look better than crimes. But Jesus loves you because of who you are and not because you strive more to please Him. You cannot buy God’s love. He loves you same as rapists, murderers, pedophiles and every other person in world.

I think that your problem is in view you have, that you deserve more because you think you are better than criminal, because of actions, so God should love you more (or show you more love).
That is wrong.
And God does show us love but we are sometimes blinded by our definition what love is. Emotions can lead us in wrong direction sometimes.

There is no person in world who could ever deserve anything from God. We are humans, fallen creatures and we will never be perfect. We get everything as gift and not as something we deserve. God is our Father who give us everything as gift. We cannot truly deserve anything.

I suggest you to talk with priest or spiritual director because this view isn’t something that we can change in one second by ourselves alone.
 
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thank you, I guess I was confused because I thought I read scripture saying God is sometimes pleased with us. I took that to mean Jesus can live all the same but still be pleased with some more than others.
 
It also sounds like you believe God controls every aspect of life that there is no free will God is responsible for everything which is simply not true.
 
Jesus can be pleased by some things more or less (like sin of course) but His love is unconditional, it doesn’t change by our actions. He loves people even when they do not love Him.

Proof of His love is His sacrifice on Cross. He died for us, knowing that we are imperfect and cannot love Him perfectly. He knew that some people will do big harm to others, He knew and knows all sins from beggining to the end of world and still love us. He died for those who end up in Hell too. He doesn’t love us to get 10 rosaries back but because He is God and His love is perfect.
God’s love cannot be changed by our sins, flaws, imperfections. Nothing can change God’s love for you.
We love God when we do His will - following His commandments.

Try to find a priest for direction, he can explain alot things and help you to change some wrong beliefs about God('s love). He can help you to grow in spiritual life and remove obstacles.

This could help on that way


 
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